One person died and four firefighters were injured early Thursday morning after a five-alarm fire swept through an apartment building in the Bronx, authorities said.
The large fire broke out around 5:30 a.m. local time at a five-story building on East 184 Street in the Belmont neighborhood, the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) shared in a statement.Nearly 300 firefighters and emergency medical service personnel responded to the fire, with units arriving approximately four minutes after receiving the call, FDNY Chief of Fire Operations Kevin Woods said during a news briefing at the scene.
“Upon arrival, we had heavy fire on the top floor, in the cockloft, and through the roof,” Woods added. “The cockloft is a space above the top floor ceiling and below the roofline, so it’s very difficult to access that fire.”
In footage shared online by the FDNY, flames could be seen pouring from windows on the top floor and spreading across the roof.
One person was found dead in the apartment where the fire began, officials said.
Four firefighters also sustained non-life-threatening injuries while battling the blaze, including minor sprains and heat exhaustion.
“There is heavy damage to this building,” Woods said at the briefing, noting that the roof had collapsed into the top floor.
The cause of the fire was not immediately known, and fire marshals are investigating to determine what started the blaze.
Woods said the building was a non-fireproof multiple dwelling. Since 2005, more than 30 complaints have been reported to the NYC Department of Buildings, online records viewed by NTD show.
Several violations remain active, including a 2021 notice for failure to maintain the building. According to the notice, inspectors observed the building’s facade in disrepair, with missing and deteriorated sections of the metal roof cornice, degraded mortar between bricks, and fallen pieces of brick found on the sidewalk.
In a statement shared on X, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he visited with first responders and families at the scene.
“My heart goes out to all mourning this devastating loss,” Mamdani wrote. “I’m grateful to the first responders who arrived quickly on scene to save lives and treat New Yorkers. I wish the four firefighters injured a quick recovery and thank them for their bravery.”
Mamdani said any tenants who have been displaced by the fire can find helpful resources through the city’s housing recovery program by calling the Back Home Unit (212) 389-6670, emailing [email protected], or visiting backhome.nyc.gov.